A Distant Heart: A Contemporary Western

by Steedly, Arabella

  After pulling on a robe, she headed toward the outhouse. Violet shook her head as the sun peeked over the horizon, it was already unusually hot for a morning in May. She was not looking forward to wearing her long, tan skirt and yellow starched blouse, with three-quarter sleeves. Before she left the house, she placed a lace fan inside her satchel. As she walked out the door, she whispered to herself, "I’ll hold class outside today underneath the trees--the children will love it."

  By the time she made it to the schoolhouse and opened the doors, she knew holding classes outside was the best decision. Even with a hint of a breeze that came through the open doors and windows, it was still stifling inside. Once the students arrived, and the role was called, Violet smiled, and said, “As you can all tell it’s rather warm in here so I thought we’d hold class outside today under the shade of the big aspen trees." She paused a moment while the children cheered and nodded their heads in agreement before she continued, "Jeffrey, I’d like for you and Henry to go fill the two buckets I have by the door with fresh water.”

  Violet had asked Otis to get her straight back chair from behind her desk and carry it outside for her. She sat under a tree in the chair holding a reader in one hand, and her lace fan in the other while children sat cross legged on the ground in a semi-circle around her.

  After a while, the students sat and read in silence while Violet watched the comings and goings of the citizens of Durango. A couple of buckboards full of supplies passed, the stage pulled in, and a few road by on horseback, but the activity was much slower than usual. She had no doubt most people were staying inside to keep out of the heat.

  As if on cue, what little breeze there was went still. So Violet picked up her lace fan and fanned vigorously, but instead of the desired cooling effect it only made her hotter. As a single bead of perspiration dropped between her breasts, she walked over to the buckets of water. When Violet leaned over to drink from the tin cup, she felt her head began to spin. When she stood up, she struggled to keep her balance, and that was all she could remember.

  Chapter Five

  The morning after his experience watching Nina and John, McCoy still wondered if Nina was also the schoolmarm. He had only seen both of the women briefly, but McCoy prided himself in being a stickler for details. It was hard to imagine he was mistaken.

  McCoy sighed and wandered out of his tent trying to redirect his attention on getting ready for work. Moments later, when the men were stepping into the rail car that transported them to the end of the line, Mathias walked to the makeshift boarding dock and hollered at them. “Let me have your attention." After waiting a moment, he continued in a quieter voice, "I don’t do this very often fellas, but due to the excessive heat, I'm shutting the operation down for a day!" After the gasps and whispers had faded, Mathias continued, "As soon as it cools down, though, you'll have to make up the time. So get some rest, boys!”

  A smile came over McCoy's face. Mathias had just given him the break he needed to make a day trip into town. He went back to the small private tent and checked his belongings to see what he needed. He had a cot, his bedroll, a couple of chairs, and a small table and a small collection of utensils and dishes. It wasn’t much, but the fact he had four walls, even if they were made of canvas, was enough for him—at least for the time being.

  After checking, he determined all he needed was a few supplies, so he laid out his saddlebags. McCoy looked out and noticed the sun wasn’t fully up, and the heat was already oppressive. He changed into the only light-weight shirt he owned and headed to the general store knowing he would have plenty of time to pay the beautiful schoolmarm a visit.

  As he approached Durango, McCoy saw the doors to the schoolhouse here open. After a quick glance through the windows, it appeared the building was empty. Puzzled—it was a school day, but no one seemed to be around he continued toward the store. Then off to one side, he saw a group of children, and what appeared to be the young teacher, sitting beneath trees at the other end of the schoolyard.

  After finishing his shopping, he slipped his packages into his saddle bags, and when he walked outside his gaze immediately returned to the schoolyard. He stood a moment and watched the woman interacting with her students. “I have the worst timing. She's either not there or busy with the children.” McCoy shoot his head and said aloud as he turned down Main Street toward the saloon. He figured he’d have a quick drink before he headed back to tent city.

  McCoy was almost passed the schoolhouse when he heard the sound of the children screaming. “Help…we need help!” When he ran around the school, he saw a couple of the smaller children sobbing as they sat beside their teacher who was collapsed on the ground. They were patting her arm trying to revive her. McCoy rushed to the woman’s side and dropped his saddle bags in the process. He placed his hand underneath her neck and gently lifted her head off the ground. From the rising and falling of her chest, he could tell that she was still breathing. Against his better judgment, he unbuttoned the top button of her blouse exposing a small area of her neck. McCoy turned to one of the older boys, and said, “She needs water…go get me some water.”

  A moment later, he dipped his hand into the bucket and splashed a few drops of water onto her face. One of the younger girls picked up Violet’s fan and started fluttering it back and forth over her face. McCoy noticed her face was flushed which he assumed was due to the heat and her lips were plump and pink—the most beautiful he had ever seen.

  Behind him, he heard people yelling and the sound of approaching footsteps. McCoy glanced over his shoulder to see Dewitt, Mathias and a handful of other men and women. When he turned back to the schoolmarm, he noticed her eyes were fluttering a bit. He laid her head back down on the ground as the town doctor kneeled beside her and opened his black bag. As the doctor placed his stethoscope in his ears, McCoy walked over and gathered his bags. “Is she going to be okay, Doc,” McCoy asked.

  “Yes, sir. Thanks for your help. She is not the only one today to pass out from the heat."

  “Well, Doc, I’ll leave you to treat her,” McCoy tipped his hat and started to walk away.

  “Hey cowboy, before you go, tell me your name? I’m sure she'll want to know who stopped to help her,” he said as he moved the shiny disk over her chest, listening to her heart.

  “Name’s McCoy, Doc. You take good care of her. I’m going to be on my way.” McCoy left and didn’t look back. There were too many people around, and he didn’t want to make a big scene. He’d give her a couple of days to recover and then he’d stop by the schoolhouse to see how she was doing. In truth, he wanted nothing more than to pick her up and take her away. If he had not been a gentleman—and if children hadn’t been standing around—he might have unbutton more than just one button and snuck a quick peek at her cleavage.

  All the way back to tent city he fantasized about the schoolmarm. He pictured undoing her buttons—one at a time—working down toward her waist. He wondered if her nipples were as pick and pert as her sweet lips and if her pussy hair was auburn too. He would have liked to raise her skirt and rub his hand up her thigh, then slowly work a finger or two inside her panties.

  McCoy groaned as he realized his thoughts about the school teacher had caused an erection. As soon as he reached his tent, he dropped his saddle bags and fumbled to unbutton his pants. Then dropping them to the ground, McCoy widened his stance and began stroking his rock hard cock. As he thought about those pick lips and how it would feel to finger her pussy he grunted as his release spilled out over his hand. After his breathing had returned to normal, he shook his head and whispered, "I can’t believe I still don't know the woman's name."

  Chapter Six

  Moments later, when Violet's eyes fluttered open, she saw Doc Emerson looking down at her and the students and town’s people were all hovering over her. Confused and embarrassed as to what was going on, she tried to stand to walk away. But the doctor grabbed her hand. Doc Emerson raised his chin and peered through his gold rimmed glasse
s, and said, “Easy now, Violet, you passed out from the heat. You need to take it slow.”

  “I passed out!” She gasped.

  Doc smiled and nodded. Then with his assistance, she was able to sit propped up against one of the large aspen trees. As she rested there a moment, Doc Emerson opened his bag and wrote out a prescription and told her it was important to drink plenty of liquids and rest for the next few days. Violet nodded in agreement, still a bit light headed.

  While Violet was gathering her students close to her and told them school was out for a few days, Doc went to fetch his carriage and pulled it up nearby. He helped Violet up into the carriage and smacked the reins against the mare's back as Violet thought of several questions. “Doc, were you the first one there, after I passed out? I mean, who found me? Did the kids run for help? I thought I saw a man but maybe I was dreaming.”

  As Doc Emerson tugged a bit on the left leather rein, and the spirited bay mare turned down Primrose Street, he said, “When I got there a man was kneeling beside you, and your students were pretty upset.” Then Doc paused for a moment to scratch his head before he continued. “He told me his name, what was it? McCray? Micky? McCoy? Yes, yes, the man’s name was McCoy. He seemed very concerned about you." Just as he reined in the mare in front of Violet's house, he gave her the news she secretly wanted to hear. "I reckon he’ll be checking up on you...at least he left me with that impression."

  Violet smiled, “Thank you, Doc. I’ll be by to see you tomorrow for my appointment."

  Doc nodded his head, and said, "I'll sit her until I see you've made it inside."

  ****

  Violet spent the next couple of days doing as the doctor ordered. She tried to read, but she had a hard time concentrating. At first, she thought it was a symptom of her heat stroke since all she wanted to do was think about the handsome stranger who had come to her aid. Or maybe it was a heat stroke of a different kind, she wondered. Violet pondered how fortunate she was that he cared enough to stop and try to help. McCoy was a man of character, and that was rare in Durango.

  Violet couldn’t deny that part of her felt both embarrassed and excited over the fact McCoy had touched her and unbuttoned her top button in front of the students. No matter, she needed to try and find him and properly thank him for his help and Violet knew just where to go—tent city.

  Chapter Seven

  It had been a few days since McCoy had been able to get back to downtown Durango. Between the heat and the amount of work Mathias had piled on them, McCoy simply had no energy to check on the schoolmarm. From what he had overheard her name was Violet, and she had returned to work—good news. His desire to get to know her, in multiple ways, had grown stronger day by day until he decided no matter what he had to do he was going to town to meet her. That day the sun was beating down of their necks, when Sam wandered up to the men, and said, "We're done today. Already two fellers fell out with a heat stroke."

  McCoy moseyed back to his tent and cleaned up before making his way to town. It was late enough he didn’t anticipate students would still be at school. As he approached the building, he surveyed the outside for the children, and let out a sigh of relief when he noticed they were gone but the windows and door were still open. So he walked up the few steps, took his hat off, and stepped inside.

  The schoolmarm had her back to him and was writing a lesson on the black board. McCoy stood there for a moment just to admire her beauty. She had on a light pink dress with sleeves above the elbow and the belt at her waist accentuated her hourglass figure. He stood there captivated, unable to speak. When she turned from the board, she jumped a bit and gasped. “Oh, I’m sorry Miss; I didn’t mean to startle you. I was….”

  “You were standing there staring at me,” she said sternly as she placed her hands on her hips.

  “Yes, ma'am I sure was.”

  "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

  McCoy took a deep breath. “I just wanted to come and see how you were feeling.”

  Violet’s face was stern as she gazed at him before a smile came over her face. “Are you, McCoy? Doc Emerson told me you were the one who helped me the other day when I passed out.”

  McCoy nodded and walked further into the schoolhouse narrowing the space between them. “Yes. I was there until the Doc showed up. I left when he said you’d be fine.”

  Violet smiled, “Well thank you, McCoy, for coming to my aid. From the stories, my students and Doc told me you were most helpful and very gentle.”

  McCoy’s grin grew broader as he walked closer and reached out his hand, “Matthew McCoy, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m glad to see you are doing well.” He marveled at how her hand felt so small and soft.

  “The pleasure is all mine, McCoy. My name is, Violet.”

  “Violet, that’s a beautiful name just like the delicate purple flower.”

  “Thank…thank you," she said. Violet’s face flushed with embarrassment from the compliment before she giggled nervously and pulled her hand away.

  The two stood in silence for a moment before McCoy finally spoke. “Violet, I hope I'm not too forward—would you mind going for a walk? Perhaps we can go have a glass of tea at the café?”

  Violet hesitated. She walked away from McCoy so she could start closing the windows as she did at the end of each day. McCoy stood there for a moment before he sauntered to the opposite side of the room and closed the others. When she had finished, Violet picked up her belongings and headed for the door. McCoy followed her out of the building still waiting for an answer.

  Then Violet bit her lower lip, and said, “McCoy, I’m flattered. Would you be so kind as to accompany me home?”

  McCoy almost hollered with joy after hearing Violet’s invitation. He managed to calmly place his hat on his head before he said, “I’d be delighted to see you home safely, ma'am.”

  Violet hugged her books close to her chest, turned to look up at him, and said, “Shall we?” As they walked McCoy made sure to keep in time with her steps. He didn’t want to outpace her, nor did he want to walk behind her and give her the wrong impression.

  “I want to thank you again for helping me the other day,” Violet said when there was a lull in the conversation.

  “You’re welcome, but I truly didn’t do much. I’m just glad to see you are up and around again,” McCoy said with a grin.

  Just as they passed the church on the corner of Main Street and Primrose, Violet turned to face him, and asked, “McCoy, may I ask what brought you here to Durango?”

  “After my wife, Marybeth passed away during childbirth a year or so ago. I needed a new start. When I read in the newspaper that there were railroad jobs, and of course I had dreams of striking it rich, I decided to give Durango a try.” He was silent again before he continued, “I haven’t had the chance to look for gold or silver yet, the railroad keeps me busy.”

  Violet scowled. “Oh, I'm sorry to hear about your wife and baby." McCoy nodded and looked away.

  After a time of awkward silence, McCoy asked, “So, how much further down the street is it to your home?”

  Violet pointed towards a quaint little house with a vegetable garden only a few feet away. “That's mine.”

  McCoy took a few more steps, then slumped, and said, “I have to say I’m a bit disappointed.”

  Violet's eye's widened, and she cleared her throat.“I beg your pardon?”

  McCoy realized his error and chuckled nervously. “Not at your home, Violet! I’m disappointed that our walk is over. It went far too fast.”

  A sly smile appeared on Violet’s face before she bit her lower lip, and said, “I never said you had to leave right away.”

  Chapter Eight

  Violet stopped to ponder a moment the implications of what she was about to ask, not wanting to set herself up for an inappropriate situation. As she laid her books on the table, she turned to McCoy, and asked, "Would you like to stay for dinner?" After all, there were no home cooked meals in tent city, and it
was the least she could do to pay him back for helping her.

  Violet's breath hitched a bit when she heard his answer, "Mighty kind of you to ask." Then he took his hat off and hung it on the cloak stand. “I’ll take you up on your offer."

  Violet's hand fluttered up to her neck as she admired how he was at least six inches taller than her. She noticed his muscular arms were tan and the fabric of his shirt was pulled tightly around his broad shoulders. She figured she might ask him to chop some firewood while she started their dinner. As they walked through the door that led to the kitchen, she turned, and said, "I'll get dinner started as soon as I get the fire going in the stove."

  McCoy spoke up just like she hoped he would. “I’ll go get the wood for you."

  Violet smiled and nodded her head when she said, "You'll have to chop some I think." Then she turned to get the potatoes from the pantry, but as soon as McCoy went out the door, she peered at him through the kitchen window. She felt a tingling down between her thighs when he removed his tan shirt exposing the rippling chest muscles.